A Chat with Steve Wood
Director, Cleveland Hts-University Hts Public Library System

“I love being a library and living here.” If a library could talk, that’s what this one would say. Oh, you don’t have to take my word for it. No less an authority than Steve Wood, Director of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library System issues that statement, most emphatically, on behalf of his library. “Ohio is a wonderful place to be a library,” he continues, a huge smile on his face. “Ohio is extraordinary for supporting its libraries, being the only state with state funding for doing so. Cuyahoga County has commissioners and taxpayers that feel very strongly about libraries and are willing to pay for them. We are blessed in this respect.”

Even though one of his first experiences with a library – the rather staid and formal Library of Congress – was not a particularly happy one, he didn’t let that get in the way of his love of books and reading. At age 12 or so, growing up just outside Washington DC, that visit “was a very scary thing. Not intentionally so, but awesomely scary, nonetheless.” Some years later, it was a somewhat similar incident in another library that put him on the path to being the director of a library system that has been consistently ranked in the top ten in the country, for the size of the population it serves.

Originally, Steve thought he might like to be an actor. However, the military intervened before he could put that plan into action. It was while a member of the Air Force stationed on an Army base in Hopkinsville Kentucky, that he encountered a public library that was rather anti-social. (This was a few years ago, now.) Generally, most patrons there were followed around by a librarian, but servicemen were immediately suspect and moved to the top of the ‘watch’ list. He was annoyed by the extra attention, and thought “I could do better than this.” So, after leaving the service, and using his G. I. Bill funding, he enrolled at Millersville University in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Library Science, then moved on to get a Masters Degree from Drexel.

For the next few years, between 1966 and 1977, he worked in libraries. Started out part-time, and moved up. “I had a good time of it,” he says. In the fall of 1977, the CH-UH system needed a director of Adult Services, so he applied. And here he still is. “It was a somewhat rough introduction,” he says with a chuckle. “You’ll remember January, 1978 and that blizzard?” This memory provokes a sturdy laugh. He continues, “But I love it here, and so does my family.” Then, for a few years, he was assistant director, moving on up to the top spot in 1988.

He is a naturally happy man. Give him two seconds, and you’ll be rewarded with a friendly smile, a natural warm curiosity about you and/or your project, and an inclination to help you find what it is you need for your project, or just to satisfy your curiosity. “I love this library, love this community. The relevance of libraries, the existence of libraries, is so important to people’s lives. We really fulfill a necessary function.”

Several years ago, when revolution hit the book trade – electronic books, huge conglomerate bookstores (rather than smaller, friendlier neighborhood independents) and other book-related mishaps, libraries had to stop and think about the future. Organizations such as the Ohio Library Council devoted pages and pages to the topic—the future of libraries. For instance, what materials would require the most storage? Old books, new books, electronic materials? Should older materials be discarded (or moved to special storage areas) in favor of new ones? There were nearly as many questions as there were books.

Compounding the issue was that libraries can—and should—be, assets to the community at large. “They need to be a gathering place, so people can be around others, just to chill, or hang out. We all need contact with other humans. Whether it’s to read newspapers, books, do the NYT crossword puzzle—we need to be able to talk to others like us, every day.” Steve glances around his large office in the new building on Lee Road. It has several windows (that will open!) and an open door. There is artwork on the walls and on the shelves, along with books. He continues, “It’s not important to actually know the other person, just to have someone with whom you can share words on a topic of interest to both of you, which of course, you can’t tell by just looking at someone.”

“I remember reading the Isaac Azimov ‘Robot’ series – Solaris had a total population of about 25,000 souls, but none of them could stand to be around any of the others. They protected thenselves from everyone else. They would meet only to procreate. It was a very cold society, and I don’t mean weatherwise.”

Maybe that’s because they didn’t have any libraries! The anticipated shrinkage didn’t happen. People expected that because of electronic book readers, and POD (print-on-demand publishing) libraries wouldn’t need so much space for collections. Well, libraries are much more than just books. These days, most libraries have bunches and bunches of computers. And in addition, many of them, like CH-UH, are wireless, meaning you can bring in your own laptop and sit in a comfy chair, silently surfing the web, answering your e-mail or doing some other computer function, all easily and without being otherwise ‘connected’.

It became evident that at some point not too far down the road, a larger main library would be essential. “We did need more storage space. As so many more new books are being printed, we needed more shelf space. But yet, you can’t discard all of the older books. And right about then, the YMCA building across the street became available. So we started taking a serious look at that building, in conjunction with the land we currently had. It was obvious we needed to do something, but it took a while to figure out exactly what it would be.”

Eventually, it was decided to tear down the existing building and re-do it, while incorporating the space in the building across the street for some new and unusual purposes. Heights Arts, for instance, is an art gallery. Little Heights (part of the Hts Parents Center) is a special place for the younger crowd. There’s a huge Activities Center, the computer labs/training centers and the Community Office. Eventually, it’s hoped that Dobama Theatre will also be housed there. Access is easy, via a gorgeous glass-walled arched bridge or walkway across Lee Road, making for a traffic-free, weather-proof commute.

When the board and the staff began thinking of a new building, several of them toured the country to gather ideas. “The best idea we found was the welcome desk,” Steve says with a grin. “EVERYONE takes a turn at it, from the director to the pages. We do a one hour shift, and truly, it serves a purpose way beyond books. It puts a smiling face on our library. Most librarians start as a page. Because they love books, love to read, they feel a connection to books. Then, they move up. It’s well-known that curiosity makes the best librarians.”

Although no one could know or predict the space needs for 20-30 years from now, one need was immediately obvious. That’s community space. One innovation was six small private study rooms at the northern end of the second floor. They have glass windows and doors that close, and are perfect for up to four to five individuals at a time. These were a big question mark during the planning stages, but already it’s obvious that more are needed. This library has bunches of computers all out in the open, although reservations are suggested for the heavy usage times. “Some libraries had no laptop accessibility except in glass rooms. We have nice comfy chairs!” Another big grin. There’s a large, comfortable ‘quiet’ room for reading or studying.

“We’ll always need librarians,” Steve continues. “The internet is not the be-all and end-all that everyone was predicting, even though it’s still pretty amazing. Google™ is wonderful for the ‘who’ and ‘when’, but the ‘how’ and ‘why’ is rarely solid, because of the way it’s all structured. It’s a great starting point.” He gazes around his little paradise and adds, thoughtfully. “Schools and libraries are not really doing the best possible job when explaining why answers from Google™ need to be carefully scrutinized. But yet, libraries really are – and need to be – impartial observers. It’s a fine line.”

A lot of people (readers and non-readers) feared that libraries would dump books for CDs, DVDs and e-books. But the written word is not going away. When e-books first hit, Steve put his library squarely at the front of the movement. Unfortunately for all concerned, there were soon too many different kinds of electronic readers to be practical. “The proprietary software ruined e-book readers, each of which had its own gimmick. Such divergence really sticks it to the consumer. The hardware wasn’t quite there yet, but it may be now, or soon. It needs to be comfy to hold, to see, to use.” He pauses to pick up a book from his desk. Carefully, he opens it and fans the pages. He looks up with a big smile. “There’s just something about an old-fashioned book that makes it appealing.” He shakes his head briefly. “The new generation is more intersted in the content than holding the carrier in their hands.”

Some day – Steve envisions a library with an electronic publishing machine (a very sophisticated Print on Demand creation) whereby the patron chooses a book and pushes a button. Within minutes, he has a newly-printed copy of the book in his hand. But, at the same time, electronics are hard for publishers to contend with. And, will the library pay for a new book and then give it to the patron, while there are still old copies on the shelf? Or will the patron pay for it? The technology is there, but— A few years ago, everyone talked about a paperless society. When asked about that, Steve laughs again. “Hah! It’s even more paper today. All over the place. It’s just paper, paper, paper!”

Once upon a time, Steve thought about being an actor. Now, there’s no time for acting. “It’s too hard to commit to a rehearsal schedule,” he says. Maybe when he retires, whenever that might be. He was frequently typecast as an old man when in his 30s and 40s, “I could do that so much better now.” This remark prompts a great laugh.

If you listen to WCLV, however, you will occasionally hear that actorly voice and diction, as Steve is the voice of the friendly ads for various aspects of his library. New Programming Coordinator Tonya Davis came up with the idea, which has exceeded their fondest dreams. The second set of five will be heard soon. Steve adds, “The great value is keeping word out that the library is there and waiting for the next person.”

He loves to travel, and does a lot of it. But no busman’s holidays for him! “Most libraries elsewhere are not as open as we are. They have old collections, they’re just not as welcoming. They have no comfort zone, it’s hard to acclimate when they’re so overwhelming. Marble or granite can be intimidating. The open space here is important.”

The one thing he’s not quite been able to figure out is how to implement a Community Calendar for the Arts. “All the arts, anywhere in the major area here, to the east, the west, the south—big or little. Not just our own little corner of the city, and not just the particular art we might be interested in. This area is so rich in the various arts, but yet, trying to find out about them all is a nearly endless task. I know we miss things because we just don’t know about them. I don’t have the answer,” he says, wistfully. “But surely, with all the technology out there, someone around here does have it. Maybe they just don’t know it yet.” His face brightens at the thought.

It’s time for Steve to take his turn at the Welcome Desk. He smiles in anticipation. “I’ve always said, ‘When I stop having fun – it’ll be time to move on,’ but that hasn’t happened yet.” With luck, that day is far off in the future somewhere.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATadelphia.net
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